Clinocardium nuttallii from Yaquina Bay, Oregon, were found to
harbor an algal symbiont in the siphon, mantle and occasionally
the foot tissues. Approximately 35 percent of the population in the
study area was infected to some degree with the alga; however, no
cockles under two years of age were infected. The degree and frequency
of infection increases in the older age groups.
Symbiont cells were removed from the host and grown on artificial
media and the temperature tolerances on these media were determined.
Mantle fluid from variously infected and noninfected
cockles from several age groups was used to fortify the artificial
media and no difference between the fluids was noticed; however, a
two month lag period in unfortified media was shortened to ten days
by the addition of as little as ten percent mantle fluid filtrate.
Chromatographic pigment analysis shows the alga to be a chlorophyte.
Chloroplast structure, cell size and growth characteristics
are very similar to algae of the genus Chlorella; this alga will be
tentatively placed in this genus.
Cockles under one year of age are not susceptible to infection
by the symbiont, whereas mature cockles become infected by feeding
on either fresh or cultured symbiont. Blood amoebocytes in vitro
will readily engulf either fresh or cultured symbiont cells. Microscopic
examination of infected tissues showed amoebocytic cells in the
algal colonies, sometimes carrying several algal cells. The algal
colonies in situ are dense masses which grossly displace the host
tissue; however, there is no overt reaction by the host to the presence
of these colonies. / Graduation date: 1973
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/32111 |
| Date | 26 July 1972 |
| Creators | Hartman, Michael Colyn |
| Contributors | Pratt, Ivan |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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